L.O. Trigg was an early promoter of the beauty of Southern Illinois and lobbied hard to get the Shawnee National Forest nationalized.

A photographer and a tour guide, Trigg took a group of tourists every July on a three day excursion through Southern Illinois he called the Ozark Tours. The meals, provided by local churches, were legendary according to Charles Hammond of Eldorado.

Hammond, also a photographer, has spent a great deal of time scanning Trigg's surviving photographs, negatives and slides. He is opening an exhibition of Trigg's work at the Eldorado Memorial Public Library today. There will be a formal reception 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 13.

Trigg was born on Jan. 12, 1887, and died in Dec. of 1949. During his life he worked tirelessly to draw attention to the beauty of Southern Illinois. He was the publisher and owner of the Eldorado Daily Journal. He felt the Garden of the Gods was a primary drawing point for the region and photographed there extensively. He also photographed his annual tours. Boxes and boxes of his negatives, prints and slides survive as a historical record of his time.

Asked why he has spent so much time preparing the show, Hammond replied,"I hope that people come and enjoy it. I am doing it mainly because it is fun. I think Trigg's history and photographs are worth preserving. If it weren't for him and persons like him I don't think we would have the Shawnee National Forest as we know it."